With just one episode left this year, I feel safe calling “Raising Hope” the season’s best new comedy — in fact, I wouldn’t even hesitate to erase the “new” moniker since The Chance clan rivals TV’s reigning funny family (that “Modern” one) for comedy supremacy week for week.

Tonight is the traditional Christmas episode, but in the hands of Burt, Virginia and Jimmy you can expect anything but. Thankfully Sabrina gets in on the action as well — resulting in a major manger moment. I caught up with actress Shannon Woodward to talk about her unofficial family, how this compares to wrangling celebrity parents and when Sabrina might lay another kiss on Jimmy!

PopWrap: I’m such a fan of the show — and I keep telling people to watch because as hilarious as it is, the show has a lot of heart too.

Shannon Woodward: Yea, definitely – I was actually moved by the [pilot]. Martha [Plimpton], Garret [Dillahunt] & Lucas [Neff] are so genuine that it brings a levity to the situation that’s sweet but not saccharine. Plus, to go from absolutely insane to genuinely heartfelt in such an organic way is so special.

PW: I am so glad that Sabrina wasn’t just relegated to the supermarket, because your scenes with Martha are amazing.

Shannon: Oh yea, it’s always so great working with them – it’s like Sabrina is standing in the middle of the circus and it’s the best thing she ever saw. I love shooting with them because, obviously they’re amazing actors, but also because I just have so much fun.

PW: I think my favorite was the family portrait episode — did your parents force those on you growing up?

Shannon: They didn’t – my family is a mix of The Chance family and a regular all-American bunch. I remember them trying to do those as a kid, but I would kick and scream so my parents just gave up. Which was for the best [laughs].

PW: You also sang and played ukulele on the show a few weeks back with Kate Micucci — was that a skill you brought to the table?

Shannon: Yea, I played guitar for 10 years – and that ukulele was actually my grandmothers from the 40’s — which Kate Micucci, being a real aficionado, told me it was worth around $7,000! She gave me some tips and I picked it up real quick

PW: Ah, it’s like “Antiques Roadshow!”

Shannon: I know right [laughs]! I never thought I’d find myself in that situation, but this show has made all my dreams come true!

PW: Does Greg Garcia [creator] often tap into the cast’s real life talents for the show?

Shannon: Totally. In that instance Kate was already playing on the show and we started playing old songs in between scenes for fun when Greg heard us and wrote it in. I think there’s a certain facet of every character in each of the actors – although it’s easy for me to say that, seeing as I play a less off the wall character [laughs].

PW: Do you have a history of bad jobs like Sabrina too then?

Shannon: It’s so embarrassing, but I’ve never actually had a real job. But I used to volunteer a lot in high school so I used to run this charity office and when they’d have events I had to take teen celeb parents around and keep them occupied so their kids would interact with orphans. It was so weird. I basically used to babysit stage parents

PW: How famous we talking about here? Like Lohans?

Shannon: You know, I don’t want to tell tales outside of school, but you can guess. It’s not that hard.

PW: Since the Halloween episode, things have gone kind of quiet between Jimmy and Sabrina — will we see more of their burgeoning relationship this season?

Shannon: Oh yea, I’m just assuming they’re saving those episodes for later on. They don’t want to rush us together too quickly. It would get boring. I’d like to see it though – they’re crazy matched. They like the same ridiculous stuff and I think they’d be great together.

PW: And you rocked that Robin costume — did you bring it home to compare to [boyfriend] Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man one?